The Divine Kingdom.
The air inside the Temple of Ascalon was full of blood Scent and the suffocating scent of burning frankincense. Twelve high priests knelt in a circle, their foreheads pressed against the cold marble, chanting in a language that predated the kingdoms of man.
At the center of the ritual circle, seven holy maidens lay in a deep, magical slumber, their life force being slowly siphoned into a swirling rift of golden light.
The Arch-Cardinal shouted:
"Oh Great Sword God! Lord of the Divine Edge! The Western Continent is falling into shadow! A false Emperor claims the thrones of kings! Send us your blade! Send us the Hero!"
The golden rift pulsed, expanding until it touched the vaulted ceiling of the cathedral.
Then, a pillar of white light slammed into the center of the room, shattering the marble floor and sending a shockwave that blew out the stained-glass windows.
As the smoke cleared, a young man sat in the center of the crater.
